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GST Advantages and Disadvantages

GST Advantages and Disadvantages

The GST is a Value added Tax (VAT) is proposed to be a comprehensive indirect tax levy on manufacture, sale and consumption of goods as well as services at the national level. It will replace all indirect taxes levied on goods and services by the Indian Central and State governments. Though GST is considered to be a historical tax reform in India, it also has some demerits. We here would look into GST Taxation and deal with its advantages and disadvantages.

GST Advantages

GST is a transparent tax and also reduce number of indirect taxes.

GST will not be a cost to registered retailers therefore there will be no hidden taxes and and the cost of doing business will be lower.

Benefit people as prices will come down which in turn will help companies as consumption will increase.

There is no doubt that in production and distribution of goods, services are increasingly used or consumed and vice versa.

Separate taxes for goods and services, which is the present taxation system, requires division of transaction values into value of goods and services for taxation, leading to greater complications, administration, including compliances costs.

In the GST system, when all the taxes are integrated, it would make possible the taxation burden to be split equitably between manufacturing and services.

GST will be levied only at the final destination of consumption based on VAT principle and not at various points (from manufacturing to retail outlets). This will help in removing economic distortions and bring about development of a common national market.

GST will also help to build a transparent and corruption free tax administration.

Presently, a tax is levied on when a finished product moves out from a factory, which is paid by the manufacturer, and it is again levied at the retail outlet when sold.

GST is backed by the GSTN, which is a fully integrated tax platform to deal with all aspects of GST.

GST Disadvantages

Some Economist say that GST in India would impact negatively on the real estate market. It would add up to 8 percent to the cost of new homes and reduce demand by about 12 percent.

Some Experts says that CGST(Central GST), SGST(State GST) are nothing but new names for Central Excise/Service Tax, VAT and CST. Hence, there is no major reduction in the number of tax layers.

Some retail products currently have only four percent tax on them. After GST, garments and clothes could become more expensive.

The aviation industry would be affected. Service taxes on airfares currently range from six to nine percent. With GST, this rate will surpass fifteen percent and effectively double the tax rate.

For the Common Man – Items Expected to Get Cheaper

The following things/items are expected to become cheaper under GST for the common man:

Prices of movie tickets may become cheaper in most states

Dining in restaurants

Two-wheelers

Entry-level sedan (except small cars)

SUVs and luxury or premium cars

Televisions

Washing machines

Stoves

For the Common Man – Items Expected to Get Costlier

The following things/items are expected to become costlier under GST for the common man:

Mobile bills

Renewal premium for life insurance policies

Banking and investment management services

Basic luxuries for a common man like WIFI and DTH services, online booking of tickets may become costlier.

Residential rent

Health care

School fees

Courier services

Commuting by metro or rail may become expensive.

Aerated drinks

Cigarettes and tobacco products.

Know the Basics of GST

In an effort to make it easier to understand the proposed GST regime in India, we have compiled 7 articles that can make it easier for a layman to understand the GST regime and its effects. Read the following to know more.

Taxable Person under GST

Taxable person under GST are persons who must have GST registration and are required to comply with all GST regulations. Find out if you require GST registration through this article. Know more about taxable persons under GST.

Difference Between IGST, CSGT and SGST

Under GST, both the Central and State Governments simultaneously levy taxes. The levy of IGST or CGST and SGGST would depend on the type of transaction, i.e., inter-state or intra-state. Know more about IGST, SGST and CGST.